[EM] EM] IRV's adequacy depends on a two-party system

[Jameson Quinn]

There is a fundamental difference between two-party dominance, which will
probably not change any time soon, and a two-party duopoly. 45%, 40%, 8%,
5%... is dominance; 51% 47% 1%... is duopoly. Any system which gives bad
enough results when there are more than two parties will be a two party
duopoly; and it seems highly possible that that includes IRV. And I think
that many of the current problems, including the outsized power of
"$peech", are inevitable consequences of a monopoly.

David, you believe differently. But your guesses about how things would
work are just that. You can't point to a real-world example. And so, as
you've essentially admitted, we're not likely to believe you until you do
have evidence. Nor, in my opinion, should we.

In other words: You could be right. So stop arguing about this and go out
there and prove it.

Jameson

2011/12/2 David L Wetzell <wetzelld at gmail.com>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: MIKE OSSIPOFF <nkklrp at hotmail.com>
> To: <election-methods at electorama.com>
> Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 19:19:28 +0000
> Subject: [EM] IRV's adequacy depends on a two-party system
>
>
> David Wetzel said:
>
> s for center-squeezing, that's not really a problem in the US as a
>
>
> whole...
> Third parties are too small and scattered.
>
> [endquote]
>
> MO: Ok, so David is saying that IRV is adequate adequate only in a two-party system.
>
> dlw: David is saying,
>
>
> Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change [two-party dominated system in US]
>
> and the courage to change the things I can change [rallying support of others around American forms of PR + IRV]
>
> and the wisdom to tell the difference between a dysfunctional two-party system and one that would "work".
>
>
> dlw
>
>
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